Something BIG Could Be Brewing in Toronto, Reports Insider About Huge Trade

There’s a clear plan in place with the Toronto Maple Leafs heading into the draft and free agency. They’ve already made some key moves, bringing in players like Darren Raddysh and Emil Andrae, while shipping out Joseph Woll and Simon Benoit. While it’s not expected that Jake McCabe or Oliver Ekman-Larsson are going anywhere, there’s a sense they might not be done.

David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period appeared on Leafs Morning Take and said the Leafs are working on something significant. “It definitely sounds like — talking to people around the league — the Leafs may have something BIG that’s cooking…”

At what position remains unknown, but the goaltending situation is intriguing. It’s not entirely clear what direction they’ll go, but it’s something to keep an eye on as things develop. Pagnotta called whatever is being discussed a potential “holy sh–” kind of deal and wondered if Connor Hellebuyck would be in the mix. He did admit he wasn’t sure how the Leafs would pull that off, but it had him curious. Hellebuyck is reported to have told the Winnipeg Jets he’s more than willing to consider a change of scenery.

The Florida Panthers are also said to be eyeing Hellebuyck. Several other teams might be kicking tires on a deal too. That creates a potential issue for Toronto.

Maple Leafs Have Something Big Brewing

Either way, Toronto could have something big in the works. And that’s not just speculation—there are people who believe the Leafs might be cooking up a move that would catch a lot of attention. Whether it actually comes together remains to be seen, but there’s definitely some buzz. Morgan Rielly has given the team a list of four Western Conference teams he’d accept a trade to. Nick Robertson could be a player dealt. If Toronto figures out a different goaltending option, Anthony Stolarz could go.

Overall, it feels like it’s going to be a busy stretch for Toronto over the next several days. They’re building off the moves they’ve already made, solidifying their blue line, and actively looking to add another top-six forward. With so many big names already having been traded this week — Bowen Byram, Jordan Kyrou, William Eklund and others — it’s hard to predict what’s coming.

If things go even partially according to plan, the expectation is that this team is positioning itself to compete for one of the top spots in the Atlantic Division next season. They’re clearly not messing around.

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